Friday, Jul 10 - Most attendees check in & register

Saturday, Jul 11 - Main Tours & Host Reception

Sunday, Jul 12 - Color Guard Breakfast (All VA Color Guardsmen strongly encouraged),        Memorial Service, First Lady's Tea

Monday, July 13, - Opening Session, Youth Awards Luncheon, Recognition Night

Tuesday, Jul 14 - District Breakfast (VA compatriots strongly encouraged), General Session (cont.), PG's Banquet

Wednesday, Jul 15 - General Session, Afternoon Tours, Elections, Installation Banquet

The theme of the 2019-2020 Presidential Initiatives is grounded in four R’s: Recruit, Reaffirm, Recognize and Retain. Since announcing the Initiatives at the Annual Meeting in February, dates have been set for some of the events and others have already taken place. In addition to attending the first of our National events in South Boston, I have already presented greetings to both the Children of the American Revolution in Williamsburg and the Daughters of the American Revolution in Richmond, as well as attending ceremonies in both Culpeper and Oak Grove and the National Spring Leadership Meting in Louisville, Kentucky.

The importance of Recruiting is obvious. New members are the life blood of our organization. Recruiting, however, is more than just attracting and enlisting new members. As an incentive for recruiting new members, the Chapter grant program initiated by then President Mike Elston and continued under Past President Pat Kelly will continue. I am assured that the rebate checks to the eligible chapters will be going out in the next week or so. We need to continue our work with the CAR and DAR to obtain referrals of those who might be eligible for membership. Recruiting however also includes getting members to serve on Committees, Chapter, State and National, to serve as officers at those levels, and to attract and encourage youth to participate in our Youth Programs, including the Eagle Scout Program, The ROTC/JROTC Program, The Orations, Essay, Poster and Brochures Programs. Chapter or Chapters participating in the most of these programs will again be recognized by the Wayne and Wink Rouse Award. To facilitate youth participation, financial incentives are essential. The Mark S, Brennan, Jr. Fund has been in the forefront of allowing us as a State Society to increase those incentives. I therefore have challenged the Society to add at least $15,000 to this Fund and I will personally match the first $2,000 raised. My check has already been sent and I ask you to do the same. Chapters having individuals who contribute at least $1,000 will be recognized with a streamer and donations will be counted toward commissions or promotions in the First Virginia SAR Regiment. Contributions should be made payable to Virginia SAR, with the Brennan Fund indicated on the Memo line, and sent to our Society Treasurer, Rick Elofson, 21 Paula Maria Drive, Newport News, Virginia 23606.

The second R is for Reaffirm. Every time we recite the SAR Pledge, we commit ourselves to reaffirm our commitment to defend the principles of Liberty and our Constitutional Republic against every foe. As a means of doing so, I challenge you to make every effort to attend the four Nationally recognized events in the Commonwealth. The first of these, the Crossing of the Dan, took place the third week of February. The three remaining are Martin’s Station celebrated on May 11, Yorktown on October 19, and Great Bridge in early December. Chapters having members attending all four events will be recognized with a streamer. A monument will be dedicated later in the year honoring the Culpeper Minutemen. Participation there will also be recognized with a streamer. We also will again be joining with the Society of the War of 1812 in Virginia and will be participating in two ceremonies on June 1, the first a grave marking ceremony at the Cedar Grove Ceremony at 10:00 and the second a plaque dedication at 11:30 at the Trinity Episcopal Church in Portsmouth, Virginia. A program to place markers or monuments honoring patriots and War of 1812 veterans buried or memorialized in each of Virginia’s counties at the Courthouse or other significant location, similar to the recognition given to World War I, World War II, Korea, Vietnam and more recent conflicts has been launched, we expect to dedicate one in Warren County this fall, and further hope to continue this project in years to come. We are also looking ahead, and as part of our Strategic Planning will develop a multi-year plan so that future dedications can include the DAR and veteran’s organizations in such recognition programs.   

The third R is to Recognize. Here there is some overlap with the second R, but as envisioned, we need to focus on recognizing and rewarding those who participate in our programs, giving their time energy, and money to advance our cause. Our Youth Program participants, compatriots, spouses, schools, businesses, and friends who properly display the flag, public servants, particularly our first responders, and elected community officials all richly deserve recognition. 2019 also marks the 400th Anniversary of the arrival of indentured Afro-American at Jamestown and the Williamsburg Chapter’s its 50th Anniversary.
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The last R is for Retain. The challenge here is to communicate with our members, to continuously solicit their input and provide the types of programs that will make them want to get involved. We ended 2018 with a modest but positive growth. Let’s build on it in 2019; it takes a concerted effort on all of our parts.
 
Fraternally, Pete

​Due to unforeseen circumstances, the Culpeper Minutemen Monument Dedication Ceremony originally scheduled for October 26, 2019 has been postponed indefinitely.
 
Please distribute this information to all chapter and committee members.
 


R. Wayne Rouse

Secretary, Assistant Treasurer
& Awards Committee Chairman
Virginia SAR
 

 For his outstanding support of NSSAR in his work on the Patriot Registration System, George Washington Chapter Compatriot Callender was awarded the Gold Roger Sherman medal by past President General Warren Alter.  L to R in photo:  George Washington Chapter President Dave Thomas, Past P.G. Warren Alter, Jamie Callender, and Past George Washington Chapter President Mike Elston.  Submitted by Paul Walden

​Karin Wulf spoke to the Williamsburg Chapter on the increased breadth of research into Early American history over recent decades with special focus on the key role of the American Revolution revealing new insights from George III’s perspective.  Karin Wulf is Executive Director of the Omohundro Institute of Early American History & Culture and a professor of History at William & Mary, where she directs graduate research.
Presenting a Certificate of Appreciation and a Jefferson Cup is William Greaf, Chapter President on the right, with Karin Wulf in the center, and Chapter Vice President Jay Smith on the left.
 
Submitted by:  Harley Stewart

VASSAR Color Guardsman, Bob Vogler (Colonel George Waller Chapter) participated Saturday, Oct. 12 with the NCSSAR Color Guard at the 239th Commemoration Ceremony of the Battle of the Shallow Ford in Huntsville, NC.
 
The ceremony commemorates the action on October 14, 1780 when members of the Virginia and North Carolina militia intercepted a force of Loyalist militia marching to reinforce Lord Cornwallis.   The Tories were defeated and turned back.   One grave is on the battlefield - that of Capt. Henry Francis of the Montgomery County, VA militia who was killed in action on the field. 
 
Photo 1:  Bob Vogler with Rear Admiral (Retd.) Jay DeLoach, NCSSAR State Secretary and a direct descendent of Patrick Henry. 
 
Photo #2:  Grave of Captain Henry Francis on the battlefield
 
Submitted by: Bob Vogler

     The Culpeper Minutemen Chapter will co-host its annual Genealogy Workshop again this year with the Fauquier Court House Chapter DAR on Saturday, November 2nd, in Warrenton.  Featured Lunch-Time Speaker will be Joe Dooley, previously President General and Registrar General of the NSSAR.  There will be over $1000 in door prizes such as free DNA tests and subscriptions to Genealogy Websites, as well as discount offers on related items.

Members of the Colonel George Waller Chapter along with members of the Fincastle/Montgomery County Militia, and the General Joseph  Martin Chapter-DAR participated at the 40th annual Callands Festival with a colonial living history encampment.  Approximately, 1,000 people attended the fall festival which is centered around several 18th century brick and wood structures which date to the earliest days of Pittsylvania County. 
 Submitted by Bob Vogler

​On September 21, Paul Walden, George Washington Chapter Flag Chairman, gave a presentation on the history of the United States Flag to residents of the Sunrise at Mount Vernon Assisted Living Facility in Alexandria.  Paul, using his collection of 8 full size (3’x5’) historic flags, began with the discussion of the Union Jack that flew over the colonies in the pre-Revolution period and the variations of the Flag during the Revolution, and the evolution of the Flag to the present day.  He also discussed the various Flag Acts and the history of Flag Day.  In the photo he holds, (ably assisted by his mother Mimi Walden, resident of Sunrise) what is known as the “Star Spangled Banner” flag, which was the 15 star and stripe flag that flew over Ft. McHenry in Baltimore during the British bombardment in the War of 1812, and was the inspiration for our National Anthem.  Submitted by Paul Walden.